Body-brace



(No Model.)

J. W. ANDERSON.

BODY BRAGE.

No. 253,251. Patented Feb. '7, 1882.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES W. ANDERSON, OF BODIE, CALIFORNIA.

BODY B RACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 253,251, dated February 7, 1882.

' Application filed November 18, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES W. ANDERSON, of Bodic, county of Mono, State of California, have invented a Body and'Shou'lder Brace and Straightener; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to a brace for the body and shoulders, the principle of which is in providing a suitable means for pressing forward the small of the back, whereby the body is kept straight and the shoulders prevented from being'thrown forward.

My invention consists of supports properly connected and shaped to fit the abdomen, and a hand or strap which passes from the front support around the waist, said strap having upon it a pad which fits the small of the back.

The object of the invention is to straighten and support the body, and by this means to cause the shoulders to be kept back, because having the lower part straight it is inconveir ient to throw the shoulders forward. The invention is therefore a. body-straightener and shoulder-brace.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the brace entire. Fig. 2 is a side view of one of the uprights and an end of the adjusting-strap.

Let A A represent two metal strips, having pivoted to their lower ends a curved met-a1 strip, B. At the top of the strips A is a strap, 0. All the metal strips herein shown are curved properly to fit; the body, as I will show hereinafter. These strips may be made of wood or other suitable material; but I prefer metal.

To one of the strips A, at about the center, is secured a strap, D, the other end of which is adapted to be secured to the other strip A. The manner of securing it is governed byconvenience. I have here shown buttons a upon the strips and button-holes b in the strap D. These button-holes I place at different distances upon the strap to adjust its circumference. On the center of the strap is a pad, E. This pad may be made of any suitable substance, and, having to be firm and stiff, it isdesirable that it have a hard base or center. It then may be covered with leather or cloth or other suitable substance. It is best to cover the metal or hard parts with some soft substance, that they may not injure the body. I prefer soft leather.

The device is worn as follows: The curved strips A are fitted upon the abdomen, the base-strip Bat the bottom, and the top strap, O, above. The curves of the strips here shown conform nicely to the part fitted. As before said, the strips A A are pivoted to the base-strip B. This is for the purpose of allowing the adjustment of the strips A with regard to their side inclination. By havinga longer or shorter strap 0, or a strap rendered extensible in any manner, the strips A A may be drawn closer together or allowed to spread at their tops to suit the comfort of the wearer. The strap D passes around the waist, and is drawn sufficiently tight and secured on the other end, thus forming a supporting-belt for the device. The stiff pad E upon the belt D fits upon and presses into the small of the back. It keeps the back straight. There is no inclination to bend at this point, because the small of the back is sufficiently sensitive to cause. the wearer to avoid unnecessary bending. The front portion upon the abdomen assists the pad E. When the small of the back is thus kept straight there is no chance to give at this portion, and,as in throwing the shoulders forward this portion bends also, when this is" prevented the inclination is to keep the shoulders straight. It" thelower part of the body he kept straight, it is inconvenient to do otherwise than to keep the whole body in like position, and therefore the shoulders are thrown back.

The device is a good support for the body, and after being worn a short time becomes comfortable. It does not interfere with other portions of the body.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The body and shoulder brace and straightener consisting of the strips A A, base-strip B, and top strap, 0, adapted to tit theabdomen, and the adjustable strap D, secured to the strips A A, and having the pad or brace -E, said strap being adapted to pass around the waist as a belt and-fit its pad E into the small of the back, substantially as'and for the purpose herein described.

In 'witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES W. ANDERSON. Witnesses:

A. F. MCDONALD, MURTY LONG. 

